smǝlqmíx Youth and members of the nmlqitkʷ (Similkameen River) Defenders stand together at a gathering that they led in Keremeos on Nov. 8, where they continued to voice their opposition to the nearby Copper Mountain Mine’s New Ingerbelle Expansion project. From left to right: Chase Dennis, Isaac Dennis, Madeline Terbasket, Meadow Arcand, Kirsten Lindley, and Coven Terbasket. Photo by Aaron Hemens
A group of smǝlqmíx (Similkameen) Youth are continuing calls to stop a controversial mine expansion project in their homelands after it was greenlit by the province earlier this year.
Members of the nmlqitkʷ (Similkameen River) Defenders, a group of syilx smǝlqmíx Youth “fighting for the water,” hosted an event on Sunday in the town of Keremeos, speaking about their “refusal” of the Copper Mountain Mine’s New Ingerbelle expansion.
More than 50 people of all ages and backgrounds were in attendance, with many displaying signs with messages that read “No to the Ingerbelle Mine Expansion.”
After years of deliberating, the “B.C.” government greenlit the New Ingerbelle expansion in February, issuing Mines Act and Environmental Management Act permits. The open pit gold and copper mine is located near “Princeton” in smǝlqmíx territory, which is about an hour northwest of Keremeos.
There have been years-long concerns from syilx communities and advocates about the impact that the expansion of the mine and its already towering tailings dam will have on the Similkameen River, which some worry could have “catastrophic impacts” on the valley.
The expansion will see the mine’s existing 192-metre tailings dam — roughly equivalent in height to a 58-storey building — increased by an additional 87 metres, according to the province’s Environmental Assessment Office (EAO).
While acknowledging that she was “angry” and “upset” to have to stand up for the water; the land; and all the beings that rely on them, nmlqitkʷ defender Meadow Arcand said on Sunday that the Indigenous Youth “have a responsibility to do this work.”
“What we’re really looking out for is these young ones, the sacred ones that are going to come after us. Like our ancestors did before us, like our Elders did before us, like the old people did before us,” said Arcand.
“We’re standing here so people can’t say that we didn’t.”
She extended this same responsibility to anyone benefitting from Okanagan waters and territories – not just syilx smǝlqmíx people.
“We need people to care about our relationships with all life: with the water, with each other, and with the future generations,” she said.
“What we do here now matters. What our ancestors did matters.”
More than 50 people gathered in Keremeos on Nov. 8 to stand in solidarity with nmlqitkʷ (Similkameen River) Defenders, a group of syilx smǝlqmíx Youth who are opposed to the nearby Copper Mountain Mine’s New Ingerbelle Expansion project. Photo by Aaron Hemens
‘They don’t care that their decision makes us sick’
Older generations of the smǝlqmíx community also spoke on Sunday, denouncing the mine expansion and sharing their support for the Youth. The organizers left handouts to resources – such as their online petition and declaration – and other information bulletins on what’s happening with mining in their homelands.
They also brought with them the syilx Okanagan Nation’s siwɬkʷ (Water) Declaration.
The expansion project is set to see the century-old mining operation revive its old Ingerbelle open pit gold and copper mine site near the Similkameen River. The expansion will extend the mining’s operation until 2047, according to the province.
After the province greenlit the mine’s expansion project in February, leadership at both Upper and Lower Similkameen Indian Bands (USIB, LSIB) denounced the government’s decision, saying that “no consent” was given.
y̓ilmixʷm (Chief) kalʔlùpaɋʹn Keith Crow of LSIB told IndigiNews in 2022 that the Similkameen River is the lifeblood of the valley.
“If we lose that, we lose our identity. We lose who we are,” Crow said.
An aerial view of the Similkameen River, flowing through the town of Keremeos in smǝlqmíx homelands in December 2024. Photo by Aaron Hemens
Meanwhile, the mine’s owner Hudbay Minerals issued a statement saying it “proactively engaged” with USIB and LSIB throughout the permitting process, and “finalized refreshed participation agreements” with both communities — “reinforcing the company’s commitment to strong Indigenous partnerships.”
“We want to thank the B.C. government, the USIB, the LSIB and our local communities for their open and efficient collaboration throughout the process,” said Robert Carter, Hudbay’s “Canadian” senior vice president, in the statement earlier this year.
“Through our strong commitment to responsible resource development and the expansion of copper production from Copper Mountain, we will be continuing to provide a metal that is vital for electrification and the global energy transition and supporting B.C.’s Critical Mineral Strategy.”
For decades, the Similkameen River’s water quality has been negatively impacted by mining operations and other industries. In the same month that B.C. greenlit the New Ingerbelle expansion, a province-wide council of outdoor recreationists declared the waterway among the province’s most endangered rivers – citing the mine’s expansion as a major threat.
An aerial image from 2024 showing the Copper Mountain Mine’s New Ingerbelle Pit’s proximity to the Similkameen River in smǝlqmíx homelands. Photo by Aaron Hemens
At this week’s gathering – which organizers described as a “protection, not a protest” – Arcand reiterated that many people in the community “don’t want” this expansion to go through.
The gathering on Sunday, she highlighted, was the culmination of smǝlqmíx Youth discussing and coming together to plan for over a year now.
“Do we depend on this mine for life? No – lut,” she said, with “lut” being the nsyilxcen word for “no.”
“We depend on the water for everything, for all life. Not just as us, but all life depends on the water … All water is connected. So whatever we do in any watershed is going to impact the collective.”
Fellow organizer Madeline Terbasket said that the young people of the Similkameen are “united” in their cause to stand up for the water, the tmixʷ (wildlife) and the tmxʷulaxʷ (the land). They said that the Youth’s voices matter in these discussions, and that Copper Mountain Mine operators, Hudbay Minerals, “can not continue to ignore our loud lut.”
“We have not had meaningful consultation with the mine. The province greenlit this project too fast. There are going to be deathly consequences if the New Ingerbelle expansion continues moving forward,” said Terbasket.
“How do we dismantle something as grotesque as the mine wanting more, more, more? We need to find solutions together.”
The 192-metre tailings dam of the Copper Mountain Mine in smǝlqmíx homelands, photographed in 2024, is roughly equivalent in height to a 58-storey building. Photo by Aaron Hemens
For years, the impact that mining and other industries are having on the river “has been seriously affecting my mental health,” they added.
“I think it is weighing on all of our hearts in some way … I do mean when I say that we are playing with human lives here. Indigenous Youth face death and suicide at an alarming rate,” they said.
“By putting this in expansion, we would take away hope from so many young people.”
The river “is everything to me,” they continued.
“The province fast-tracked this project because they want the economic benefits. They don’t care that their decision makes us sick. Blood will be shed by many for the benefit of few.”
For generations — “since q’sapi (a long time ago)” — they said their family grew up along the river. They shared stories, from their lifetime and before theirs, of family members enjoying what the river had to offer — from fishing to swimming.
“‘Water is life’ is not just a slogan to me. Anytime I have a hard day, I pray to water. And I feel better after,” they said.
“I owe my life to this river. I must speak up. I must do something.”
Madeline Terbasket, a member of nmlqitkʷ (Similkameen River) Defenders, speaks at a gathering in Keremeos on Nov. 8, which was led Terbasket and other smǝlqmíx Youth who are opposed to the nearby Copper Mountain Mine’s New Ingerbelle Expansion project. Photo by Aaron Hemens
LSIB Elder Eliza Terbasket shared her experiences “on that river, living off that river,” and the changes she’s seen to its waters in her lifetime.
From swimming in the water during the summer, to helping her brothers skate on it in the winter, there was even a time where she said her brothers would fish out of it.
Similar to proponents of the mine today, she said when she was younger, she saw mining as a way to bring jobs and economic revenue to the valley.
“I was very naive. I hadn’t realized how much our water was being affected,” she said.
As mining operations from “Hedley” to “Princeton” came and went throughout the later half of 20th century, she said she began to realize that the river was changing.
“Our animals are changing – they’re being affected by the poison in our waters,” said Terbasket.
“I imagine that all of us in this valley are already affected by the poisons in our waters. We just don’t know it.”
Her prayer, now and always, she said, is for “the ones that come after us” to be able to live a long and healthy life.
“How do we do that if our water is not good?” she said.
“I love how many people showed up today. I really appreciate each and every one of you. Because that gives me hope.”
Lower Similkameen Indian Band Elder Eliza Terbasket, right, gestures towards Madeline Terbasket during a gathering in Keremeos on Nov. 8, which was led by Madeline and other smǝlqmíx Youth who are opposed to the nearby Copper Mountain Mine’s New Ingerbelle Expansion project. Photo by Aaron Hemens
Elder Larry Kenoras said that “hopefully,” his other relatives can stand up and support the Youth.
“So they don’t have to fight — we can sit down and talk like this in a good way,” said Kenoras.
Other syilx Nation members, Jennifer Lewis and Dixon Terbasket, also said they were also willing to stand by and support the Youth.
“It’s something that takes organization, it takes unified people. It’s about people standing up and holding hands, and deciding that water is the most critical thing,” said Dixon.
Wolfe Creek, downstream from the Copper Mountain Mine’s tailings dam, pictured in smǝlqmíx homelands in 2024. Photo by Aaron Hemens
Lori Goldman from Seniors for Climate South Okanagan said that they are a group of seniors who support the Youth however they can, because “later is too late,” she said.
“We know what we need to do. And our leaders are not doing it,” said Goldman.
“We have the power, when we come together, to make our voices stronger and to make something happen. It is possible.”
Pauline Terbasket, the executive director of the Okanagan Nation Alliance and a member of LSIB, said that she is supporting the Youth because she believes they will “lead the way.”
“Let the Youth lead the way – they are leading the way. Like the salmon, they’ll lead a way; they’ll find a way – they already have,” said Terbasket.
Pauline Terbasket, centre, listens as nmlqitkʷ (Similkameen River) Defender Meadow Arcand speaks at a gathering in Keremeos on Nov. 8, which was led by Arcand and other smǝlqmíx Youth who are opposed to the nearby Copper Mountain Mine’s New Ingerbelle Expansion project. Photo by Aaron Hemens
The post smǝlqmíx Youth lead rally against greenlit Copper Mountain Mine expansion: ‘They don’t care that their decision makes us sick’ appeared first on Indiginews.
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